Apparatus for obviating distortion in gummed margins of sheetlike articles



O. HAYES.

Jifne 29, 1943. L. y

- APPARATUS ron OBVIATING mswoa'rxou IN ewumn MARGINS or sum-r- LIKE ARTICLES 4 Filed July 13, 1939 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 I m l u l 3 I.

INVENT 'OR Zy/m Q #4 es.

.4 7=TORNE Y Patented June 29, 1943 aszazrs APPARATUS Foe. onym'rme DIS-TORTION IN GUMMED MARGI N S F SHEETLIKE AR- TICLES Lynn 0. Hayes, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to F; L. Smithe Machine Co.," ;I-Inc., New York, N. Y.,- a corporation of New York Application July 13, 1939, Serial No. 284,233

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for obviating distortion in gummed margins of sheetlike articles such as the sealing flaps of envelopes.

Since advent of rotary envelope machines of the type disclosed in the Winkler and Dunnebier Patent No. 1,396,906, of November 15, 1921, difficulty has been encountered incidental to warpage of the envelopes produced thereby, and this difficulty has become greatly aggravated with the faster operating machines in use at the present i time. Increase in production has, of course,

necessitated quicker drying of the gum, consequently more heat must be applied. The greater heat produces excessive shrinkage in the gum that causes corresponding areas of the envelope flaps to cup in the direction of the gum, with the result that the flaps curl and cause warpage of the entire envelope. When distorted, the envelopes do not stack readily or lie smoothly within the boxes in which they are packed, and

when the envelopes are removed from the boxes they are unsightly and appear to be improperly successfully and would not permit of the high speed operation required of the present day rotary machines.

. It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invent-ion to provide a method and apparatus for obviating distortion of the gummed margins of flaps and capable of successful operation in accordance with the high speed of presentrotary machines.

' In accomplishing this and other objects. of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a rotary envelope machine equipped with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1.

. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 I

Fig. 5 is a detail section through the mechanism for producing a counter-curling tension in the envelope flaps to resist. any curling tendency incidental to the drying of the gum, so that the formed envelopes are delivered with the flaps. in fiat condition. I

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a partially folded envelope blank showing the sealing flap after it has been acted upon by the curl obviating mecham, and which has imparted thereto a slight reverse curl.

Fig. '1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the different operations performed on an envelope blank, and. particularly illustrating the relative station at which the curl obviating mechanism is located.

Referring more in detail to thedrawingsz.

l designates a portion of a rotary-type envelope making machine, and which includes side frames 2 and 3 carrying the various operating mechanisms required i'n'the formation of envelopes from died out blanks. For'exampl'e, envelope blanks a are. removed singly from a stack 11 and advanced by suitable conveyor mechanism to a point e where the blanks are moved in fanned out, superimposed relation,v as at d, so that only the portions of the sealing flaps to be gummecl are exposed to a gum applicator 4. The blanks, after being gummed, are partially separated as at f, and delivered through a drying zone 5, between belts 6, where sufficient. heat is applied to complete drying of the gum prior to the time the blanks reach. the scoring and folding mechanisms, whereby the bottom flaps 7', or the side flaps h, are gummed and the bottom flaps are folded over the side flaps, prior to folding of the sealing flaps e, which completes the envelopes. After completion the envelopes are stacked, counted, and ready for boxing.

When the liquid gum is appliedto the sealing flaps, and heat applied,- drying of the gum causes the corresponding areas of the flaps to cup and curl in the direction of the gum. This cupping and curling. tendency is greatly aggravated with increase in the drying temperature so that by the time the blanks are. carried from the heating zone, into cooler atmosphere, the sealing flaps curl to such an extent the flaps are difiicult w, control, and in every instance do not lie in fiat condition. Therefore when the envelopes are stacked and placed in a box, the bodies of the envelopes warp. because of the curl in the, flap,

readily, and may be packaged without producing distortion.

I therefore provide the machine with curl or distortion obviating mechanism ,ljwhich is preferably located following the side fiap folding mechanism and prior to application of the sealing gum which adheres the bottom flap to the side flaps. In the illustrated instance, the mechanism 1 consists of a pair of horizontally arranged bars 8 and 9 spaced apart to form a slot-like opening I therebetween and of ample width to pass-the;

blanks therethrough. The bars are supported at their-ends within recesses'll and I2 in the upper ends of vertical posts l3 and i4, carried'by longitudinal framebars' l5 and 16 located intermediate the side frames 2 and 3 previously men tioned. The posts l3 and I4 are of sufficient height so that the slotted opening formed be= tween the bars is positioned in the path of travel of the envelope blanks, the blanks" being advanced by'driven rollers H and [8 located on the respective sides of the mechanism I. Cooperating withthe rollers-H and j8 are pressure rollers I9 and engaging with the folded over sidefiaps.

The bars 8 and 9 are of substantially semicircular cross-section, as best shown in Fig. 5, and arranged with the circular faces 2i and 22 thereofon the entry side of the slot, so that they cooperate in forming a gradually constricted guide throat for directing the blanks therethrough. The side faces'of the barsjon the exit side of the slot are substantially fiat'and located in a common vertical plane. v I g j Movable over the fiat facesof the bars is a floating forming bar 23 adapted to engage under the ungummed faces of the sealing flapsand deflect the gummed side in wiping contact with the upper bar 8. The movable b'ar23 is of rectangular cross-section and -has a fiat face 24' engageable with the fiat faces of the first named bars. The flat faces of the upper' bar 8 and the bar 23 terminate in substantially angular edges 25 and 26 for" a purpose later'described. The bar 23 has its ends freely mounted in guides 21 and "28 carried by the upper ends of the posts [3 and I4. plates 29 and 39 which are spaced from the faces of the posts by blocks'3l and 32, as best shown inFig. 5. The plates are secured-to the posts by suitable fastening devices, such" as screws 33, extending through the ends of the plates, through the spacing blocks, and into the posts. The spacing blocks are of suitable width so that the guide openings 34 and 35 loosely accom modate the ends ofthe bar. -In order to floatingly" support the bar 23 the ends thereof have pins 36 and 31 mounted in the slotted ends 38 and'39 of rock levers 49 and-H. The rock levers 40 and 4| are fulcrumed on the posts by pivot screws'fl and 43, and have tail portions and carrying rollers 46 and 41 respectively engaging the peripheral faces of circular cams.48 and 49 fixed to the ends ofthe shaft carrying the roller.46. The cams and 49 have portions of the. periphery cut away, as at 50,

These guides may be formed by so that the rollers are adapted to drop therein and allow movement of the edge 25 of the bar 23 past the edge 26 of the upper bar 8 under action of springs 5| and 52. The springs 5| and 52 have one of their ends hooked over the pins 36 and 31 and their opposite ends hooked over the pins 53 and54 extending laterally from tensioning levers 55 and 56. The tensioning levers 5 and 56 are pivotally mounted on the posts above the rock levers, as at 51', and have tail portions 58 adapted to be engaged by the shanks 59 of adjusting screws 69. The adjusting screws are threadedly supported in lateral extensions 52 on the upper ends of the posts, the screws being secured in adjusted position by lock nuts 63.

In order to assist in guiding the blanks through the entry slot between the bars 8 and 9, the bars carry spaced fingers 6! and 68, having their ends extending substantially to the tangent point between the rollers l9 and I1, and located in slots 69 and 10 of the-respective rollers. A supporting finger "II also extends forwardly from the lower bar 9 to guidingly support the blanks until'they are gripped between the rollers l8 and 29. The forwardly extending finger is carried by an oif set'portion 12 fixed to the under side of the bar 9 and spaced from the face thereof a sufli'-- cient distance to accommodate the movable tensioning bar 23 as best shown in Fig. 4.

With a machine constructed as described, the envelopes have the gum applied to the sealing flapsin the manner above described, and are moved through the drying zon where sufficient" heat is administered to effect drying thereof by the time the envelope blanks reach the scor ing and folding mechanism. The heat applied is so intense that the gum is rapidly dried, and the extremely quick drying and shrinking of the gum causes the flaps to cup and become distorted, that is, the'fiaps cup upwardly and tend to roll in th direction that the blanks are ad vanced through the machine. When the blanks are moving to the scoring and folding mecha-- nism, the sealing flaps are in trailing position and the bottom flap first enters betweenthe rollers l9 and l! to pass between the guide fingers 61 and 68. The guide fingers support the blank and guide the bottom flap through the slotted opening l9 and across the top of the bar 23,-at which time the edge 25 of the bar 23 is located below the upper edge of the lower bar 9, since the rollers on the rocker arms are engaging the high lobe portions of the cams. However, the machine is so timed that when the sealing flaps begin to enter the slot and the gummed portion passes under the bar 8, the rollers drop into the recesses of the cams whereby the tension springs come into play to raise the bar 23 against the under faces of the blanks. The springs are loaded sufficiently so that the edge 25 is moved above the edge 26 to deflect the sealing flap downwardly as shown in Fig. 5. By the time that the sealing flap is thus engaged, the rollers l9 and 20 are acting upon the folded side flaps, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the blank is drawn between the edges 25 and 26, while pressure is being exerted by the tensioning springs. The gummed portion of the flap is thus drawn against the edge 25 and upwardly under the edge 26,to eifect'tension in the flaps acting in opposition to that imposed by the' gum." In fact, this tension may be increased to the point where it produces a reverse curve .in the'fiaps as shown in Fig. 6. 1 When the flaps pass the. bars they lie in substantially fiat condition or. .with'.

the flaps perhaps curving slightly downwardly oppositely to the curvature ordinarily imparted by the gum.

* Attention is directed to the fact that the ten sion of the springs is adjusted according to'the weight of the paper stock and thickness of the gum. The heavier the stock and the thicker the gum, the more tension is applied to the springs. Due'to thespring mounting of th bar 23, the bar' substantially floats against the resistance offered by the blank as it is drawn between the respective bars. Attention is directed to the fact that the amount of deflection produced in the flap is proportionate to the resistance ofiered by the contacting edges 25 and 26 under action of the springs and 52, and that this resistance lessens as the converging portions of the flap pass between the respective bars so that the spring action increases to impart greater reverse curvature toward the tip of the flap.

When the sealing flaps are folded over the body portion of theenvelopes they lie flatly thereagainst. The envelopes may then 'be readily stacked and placed in boxes. Since the flaps are flat they do not warpthe body portions of the envelopes, consequently when the envelopes are removed they are of flat character, entirely free of distortion, and therefore may be read.- ily fed through printing presses, or handled in various automatic equipment such as sealing, stamping, filling or stuffing, automatic addressers, and similar machines.

,, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

r 1. In a machine of the character described,

means for obviating curl in the gummed margins of sheet-like articles including, means for advancing said articles, a bar-like member sup- Ported in the path of the travel of the articles and arranged to contact the gummed surfaces of said margins, a cooperating member arranged on the opposite-side of said path to the bar member and, engaging the opposite surface of said margins, and means yieldingly supporting said last named memberin contact with said margins for moving said margins against the bar member and eflecting progressive offset of the margins simultaneously with advance under said bar-like member..

2. In an envelopemaking machine, means for obviating curl in the gummed sealing flaps oi envelopes-including, means for advancing envelope blanks, a bar-like member supported in the path of the travel of the blanks and arranged to engage the gummed surfacesof said flaps as they are moved thereunder, a cooperating memher ofiset from thebar-like member and arranged to engage the opposite surface of said flaps on the opposite side of said path, and means yieldingly supporting said cooperating member in contact with the flaps and movable past'the bar-like member for effecting progressive offset of the flaps simultaneously with advance of the flaps under said first named member.

3. In an envelope making machine, means for obviating the curl in the gummed sealing flaps of envelopes including means for advancing partially formed envelopes through a fixed path with the gummed sealing flaps in trailing position, a bar member supported over the path of travel of the flaps having a forming edge engageable by the gummed sides of said flaps, a tensioning bar, means movably supporting the tensioning bar below said path and in contact with the under face of said flaps for movement across said edge to effect deflection of the flaps, means yieldingly urging saidtensionin'g bar-to deflecting position, and means for selectively adjusting the action of said yielding means.

4. In an envelope making machine, means for advancing partially formed envelopes through a fixed path with the gummed sealing flaps in trailing position, bars extending transversely across said path and spaced apart to form a throat therebetween through which the envelopes are successively passed, an offset tensioning bar movable in sliding contact across the spaced bars to deflect said flaps, springs yieldingly supporting the tensioning bar in contact with said flaps to deflect the flaps relatively to the path of travel of the envelopes, and means for tensioning said spring to vary said deflection.

5. In an envelope making machine, means for advancing partiallyformed envelopes with the gummed sealing flaps in trailing position, spaced bar members arranged transversely of the ad-' vancing envelopes and forming a slot-like throat through which the envelopes are successively advanced, a tensioning bar, rocker arms supporting the tensioning bar for movement across said throat to deflect the gummed portions of said flaps while passing through said throat, tension means yieldingly supporting said tensioning bar in contact with the envelopes,- and cams for actuating the rocker arms to carry-said tensioning bar out of contact with said envelopes.

6. In an envelope making machine, means for obviating the curl in gummed sealing 'flaps of envelopes including means for advancing partially formed envelopes through a fixed path with the gummed sealing flaps in trailing position, a bar supported over the path of travel of the flaps, a tensioning bar ofiset from the first bar, means supporting the tensioning bar in floating contact with the under face of said flaps to effect deflection of the flaps While the flaps are engaged by the first named bar, and guide fingers carried by the bars to guide the envelopes between said bars.

' 7.- In an envelope making machine, the cornbination of means for applying gum to the sealing flaps of envelope blanks, means for drying said gum, means for folding side flaps of the envelope blanks, means forapplying gum to seal bottom flaps of the envelope blanks to the folded side flaps, and means interposed between said side flap folding means and the last named gum applying means forobviating curl occurring in said sealing flaps incidentaltodrying of the gum thereon. I A 8. In an envelope making machine, a pair of forwarding rolls, gripping rolls cooperating with the'forwarding rolls to move partially formed envelopes 'therebetween with previously gummed sealing flaps in trailing position, spaced bar positioned between the forwarding rolls and forming a throat through which the blanks are successively passed by the forwarding rolls, a tensioning bar, rock levers supporting the ends of the tensioning bar under the path of the envelopes for movementacross said throat to deflect said flaps while being advanced by said rolls, cams connected with one of the forwarding rolls and having contact with the rock levers to move the tensioning bar away from the envelopes, and springs urging the tensioning bar in contact with the flaps of said envelopes to bend said flaps across the edge of the upper bar while the envelopes are being advanced by said rolls. a

9. In an envelope making machine, a pair of forwarding rolls for conveying blanks with folded: over side flaps and with gummed sealing flaps thereof in trailing position, gripping rolls .engaging the folded-over side flaps and cooperating with the forwarding rolls to move the partially folded blanks, spaced bars positioned between the forwarding rolls and'forming a throat through which the blanks are successively passed by the forwarding rolls, said bar on the gum side of said sealing flaps having a forming edge, a tensioning bar, rock levers supportinghthe ends ofthe tensioning, bar, cams having connection with therock levers to move the tensioning bar away from the path of travel of said blanks, springs normally urging the tensioning bar in contact with the sealing flaps, said cams having dwells for rendering said springs efiective, and means for selectively tensioning said springs to control deflection of the gummed sealing flaps over said forming edge by said tensioning bar.

10. In a machine of the character described, means for obviating curl in the gummed flap of an envelope including means for advancing the envelope through a fixed path, a member extending over the path of the envelope and arranged to supportingly contact the gummed surface of said flap, a cooperating member offset from said first named member on the side in the direction of movement of the advancing means a distance slightly more than the thickness of the envelope flap and positioned toengage the face of the flap opposite the gummed face, means for retaining the cooperating member in floating contact with the flap while the flap is movin between said members to effect offset said flap while the flap is moved in contact with said supporting member, and means for moving the co-,

operating member out of contact when the, body of the envelope moves between said members.

11. In an envelope making machine, means for obviating curl'in the gummed sealing flaps of envelopes including means for advancing partially formed envelopes through a fixed path with the gummed sealing flaps in trailing position, a bar supported over the path of travel of the flaps, a cooperating bar on the under side of said path and ofisetrfrom the first named bar in the direction of the movement of the envelopes said path and offset from the first named bar in the direction of the movement of the envelopes in said path, means supporting one of said bars in floating contact with said flaps to efiect deflection of the flaps while the flaps are engaged by the other bar, and guide fingers carried by one of the bars to guide'the envelopes between said bars. i 13. Sheet decurling apparatus adapted foroperation in advance of a sheet traction device, comprising cooperating elements engagingopposite sides of acurled sheet, one element including a sharp decurling edge arranged to engage the convex side of the sheet transversely to the direction of sheet traction, the other element including a guide member arranged to engage the concave side of the sheet parallel to the decurling edge and in advance of the zone of sheet engagement by said edge, the guide member being located adjacent to and overlapping the decurling edge when said elements are in operative position, and arranged to deflect the curled sheet at a relatively sharp angle across the decurling edge during traction of the sheet across said edge. 14. Sheet decurling apparatus as set forth in claim 13 in which one of said elements is movable between operative position'and inoperative position in which the guide member and decurling edge are spaced from a straight path for the sheets, and which includes mechanism for shift ing said movable element into inoperative position prior to the feeding of each sheet and into operative position after each sheet is fed along said path into position between said elements.

15. Sheet decurling apparatus comprising a pair of cooperating sheet-advancing rollers, mechanism for feeding sheets successively to said rollers, cooperating decurling elements engaging opposite sides of a curled sheet, one element including a sharp decurling edge extending transversely and adjacent to the sheet path in advance of said rollers, the other'element including a sheet bending member extending parallel to the decurling edge, located on the opposite side of the sheet path, said bending member and decurling edge being spaced from a straight sheet path when in inoperative. position and extending into overlapping relationshipadjacent to and on the advance side of the decurling edge when in oper-' ative position, and actuating mechanism for maintaining the elements in inoperative position during feeding of a sheet to the rollers and thereafter shifting one of the elements into operative position with the bending member engaging'and bending said sheet across the decurling edge, the arrangement being such that an intermediate portion of the sheet is initially bent across said edge at a relatively sharp angle by'the bending member and the trailing portion of the sheet is drawn across said edge at such angle by the rollers. V

LYNN O. HAYES. 

